What is software repackaging?
Software repackaging is the process of creating a silent, customized and easily deployable installation for any required application. This process means reengineering an existing legacy installation or creating a
package from raw resources. In either case it is critical that packaging standards and procedures are produced and adhered to in order to produce application packages of a consistently high standard.
What is MSI?
Microsoft Installer (or Windows Installer) is a technology produced by Microsoft to allow administrators and software packagers to standardize on one package format when delivering applications to the desktop.
It provides many advanced features compared to legacy installation technologies, such as the ability to self-repair applications, and to reverse any changes made to a workstation in the event of package installation failure.
At the lowest level, an MSI package is a relational database, therefore it is essential that any organisation delivering packages using MSI understand the impact of this technology on their environment.
Why outsource packaging?
Software repackaging (whether it be using the Microsoft MSI or Altiris SVS format) is a part of an application's lifecycle, and as such must be treated with the same attention to detail as the development of the application
itself. After all, if you can't deliver the application to the desktop in an efficient and risk-free manner, return on investment begins to fall and total cost of ownership begins to rise. These are situations that can be easily
avoided without recourse to hiring expensive contractors whose time may not be fully utilised, or delivering a package which risks compromising the integrity of the desktop, prompting support calls to your helpdesk. Packaging
outsourcing is a quick and highly efficient means of ensuring that software installations are tailored to your requirements.